2020 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,969 MOT tests, the 2020 Volvo XC60 recorded a 92.3% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), the 2020 XC60 comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.8% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 463 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 XC60 fails 5.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.0% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 7.3% of the time against 8.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 8.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,253 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.7% | 433 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 394 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 247 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 87 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 463 |
| 2 | Wipers | 356 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 308 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 5 | Washers | 81 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 81 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.8% | 5,918 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 2,810 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 1,700 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 832 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 484 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 104 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 10,257 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 12,776 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,521 | 9.5% |
| 90-120k | 356 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 5.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 12,934 | 7.3% |
| Diesel | 9,540 | 8.0% |
| Petrol | 3,495 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 213 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 8,705 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 8,529 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 8,494 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 XC60
On a 2020 XC60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (1.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (1.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 25,969 2020 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volvo XC60?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.7%).
Does the 2020 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 5.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,969 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.